Around Hancock

A wet, windy and wild March blew across and around Hancock earlier this week, scouring the last of the snow pack stacked in the parking lot corners.

Long since turned black and stippled with gravel, the frozen water was released to mix with the fresh falling drops and drain slowly away towards the river.

Mushy ground gave way under my feet in our side yard, showing how the sponge of earth had been plumped by the retreating frost, yielding a porous surface ready to catch the drench of early spring rain.

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Town donates to emergency services

Lest local citizens think that government is all take and no give, the Town of Hancock made a series of donations to the Hancock Volunteer Fire Co., the Hancock Rescue Squad and the Hancock Council of Churches.

The fire company and rescue squad each received $4,000, some in cash and some in services. The rescue squad is in the final stage of finishing the renovations on their new building on Main Street.

The church council received $300 to assist in the many efforts it makes to provide services for those in desperate need. Cooperation is the hallmark of any healthy town, and Hancock displays this civic spirit at many levels.

Bloodmobile to be in town

The Washington County Chapter of the American Red Cross will have its Bloodmobile in Hancock today.

Blood donors are asked to come to the Hancock Town Hall and Community Center, 126 W. High St., between noon and 6 p.m.

There is always need, and this is a great way many of us can help others in crisis.

Church to hold bingo on St. Patrick's Day

St. Peter's Catholic Church is gearing up for its annual St. Patrick's Day Bingo festivities on Sunday (the event comes a week sooner this year, because of an early Holy Week and Easter.)

The doors of St. Peter's Parish Hall at 16 E. High St. will open at noon for lunch, with games beginning at 1 p.m.

Cash prizes will be offered, along with door prizes and a cake raffle. The ladies of St. Peter's will have the kitchen open with plenty of delicious food and beverages.

This event, co-sponsored by the Holy Name Society, is always a welcome and enjoyable late-winter occasion.

Photo club to meet Sunday

The next meeting of the newly-formed Hancock Area Photography Club will be Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Media Center at Hancock Middle-Senior High School.

Any interested local amateur photographer is welcome. This enterprising group is already sponsoring a photo exhibit, which features the work of seven shutterbugs on display in Hancock's Public Library.

The pictures went up on March 1 and will be there into June.

AAUW book sale set for April 23-27

For 45 years, the women of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) have been holding a spring book sale.

In recent years, the sale has been taking place at the Washington County Agricultural Center off Sharpsburg Pike. This year is no exception.

The Hancock Town Library will be happy to receive any books that you wish to donate for this worthy cause. This is a great time to clean off those shelves and make room for newer titles. All kinds of books, CDs, videos and audio tapes are welcome, in all categories.

The sale will take place April 23 to 27, with the giant "bag day" on Sunday, April 27.

Volunteers are needed the days just before the sale, and students may earn community service hours helping with the set-up.

All proceeds benefit local scholarships and educational programs. For more information, call Jeanne Stoner at 301-733-2007.

Lenten preaching series continues

The 40 days of Lent are drawing to a close, and so is the 2008 Wednesday Lenten Preaching Series at St. Thomas' Episcopal Church.

On Wednesday, March 12, the Rev. Steven L. McCarty, deacon, will deliver the final message on this year's theme, "The Light of the World."

Rev. Steve is no stranger to Hancock. He grew up here and after moving to Hagerstown, where he still lives, returned to Hancock for a time as chief of police. Steve, a retired Maryland state trooper, is a Washington County Deputy Sheriff assigned as the school resource officer at Williamsport High School.

Rev. Steve's wife, Melanie, a nurse at Washington County Hospital, serves St. Thomas' as parish nurse, and their two sons are active members of St. Thomas'.

The public is invited to attend the pot luck supper at 6:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall and the service at 7:30 p.m. in the church.

The historic church is at Church and High streets. Call 301-678-6569 for more information.